Mark Cuban hopes new-look Lakers 'suck' this season

Oct. 31, 2012
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From left, Steve Nash, Metta World Peace, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol make for an impressive starting lineup. But the Lakers are 1-4 with losses to the Mavericks, Trail Blazers, Clippers and Jazz. Flip through this gallery for more shots from the early-season slide. / Jayne Kamin-Oncea, US Presswire

by Scott M Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott M Gleeson, USA TODAY Sports

The new-look Los Angeles Lakers looked like anything but a championship-caliber team in Tuesday night's season-opening loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

While the additions of two-time MVP Steve Nash and the NBA's best center, Dwight Howard, have given the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers high expectations for the 2012-13 season, the Mavs' famously outspoken owner was quick to point out that super teams don't always equate to championships.

As far as a quote goes, Cuban kept it simple, and provided reporters with a gem.

"I don't know, I don't care, I just hope they suck," Cuban said via ESPNDallas.com when asked to evaluate the Lakers. "You know, like any other team."

Sure, Mark. Like any other team. Cuban has had choice words for star players in the past, mainly Deron Williams when he chose the Brooklyn Nets over the Mavs as a free agent this past summer.

Cuban's Mavs defeated LeBron James' Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals in the first season of the "Big Three." He knows first hand the value of team chemistry, something the Lakers seemed to be lacking after going winless in the preseason and looking ugly in the team's opener.

He also has pointed out that the Lakers have not always had success in the past when aligning future Hall of Famers. In 2004, veterans Gary Payton and Shaquille O'Neal joined Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal in L.A. in quest of a title. The Lakers made it to the Finals, but ended up losing and the group split up when it didn't work out.

It's tough to compare those Lakers to these Lakers, though, even though Bryant and Nash are in the twilight of their careers. Dwight Howard is very much in his prime, and when playing alongside fellow big man Pau Gasol and meshing with Nash and Bryant in the backcourt, the Lakers should pose matchup problems for just about every team in the league.

Cuban again emphasized the "team" aspect.

"Obviously, Nash is great. He's phenomenal, Dwight's phenomenal, Kobe ... but it takes a team," Cuban said. "They've got to come together and play as a team. Hopefully, they won't figure it out."